Note: In a career context, all numbers are restricted between 0 and 5. However, in a match context, the numbers are not restricted. For simplicity, we are changing the scale here in the report and expressing every Match Impact number as a percentage. The maximum percentage (100) is assigned to the highest impact player of the match. All other players in the match are scaled relative to him. Negative Match Impact indicates that not only did the player not contribute in the match, but he also had an adverse effect on his team’s chances.​​

South Africa crushed New Zealand by eight wickets in Wellington on Saturday (18 Mar) and took a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Quinton de Kock emerged as the highest impact player of the second Test.

The left-hander scored 91 under immense pressure (South Africa were 94 for 6 at one stage) and resurrected the innings, courtesy a 160-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Temba Bavuma (89). That he also helped effect seven dismissals in all (five catches and two stumpings) gave him Fielding Impact.

Bavuma, meanwhile, edged de Kock to finish as the highest impact batsman of the match as his Partnership-Building Impact was marginally higher.

Keshav Maharaj was the highest impact bowler for his match haul of eight wickets (2 for 47 and 6 for 40; six of them top-middle order scalps). He was economical too and his six-for in the second innings had Pressure-Building Impact .

While Maharaj was declared ‘man of the match’, he was only the third-highest impact player as the roles of de Kock and Bavuma were more critical to the visiting team’s success. It was their partnership that brought South Africa back in the game. The Proteas eventually secured a 91-run lead before the left-armer spun the home team out.

Interestingly, all three of them – de Kock, Bavuma and Maharaj – registered the highest impact performance of their respective Test careers in this match.

Henry Nicholls finished as New Zealand’s highest impact player for his century under pressure in the first innings (118 and 7).

In all, three New Zealanders and two South Africans failed in the Wellington Test.